That’s where I am. Not that I follow too closely, but I think it’s all a bit of a waste if Sanada doesn’t shit or get off the pot.

New look, new group.

Sure. What the hell. If you're not gonna let him win the G1 and win it the hard way, let's go the second best scenario. Have him win the New Japan Cup and challenge the champ that way.

Sanada #1

:y:

:y:

Watching now. Skipping the multi man tag matches. Starting with the stardom match

Very spotty so far but they're executing everything quickly and precisely, so it works.

Like, this match looks like how a lot of women think their clumsily executed sequences appear in their heads.

That was a lot of fun. Very creative finish.

Sasha is really doing work. AZM is incredible.

Oh shit, inject Sasha vs Mayu directly into my veins, please.

There's that weird promo again

Shota vs Zachary of Sabre

Been following shota closely for a while. Excited for this one. Feel like his whole identity is tanahashi jr. though. Needs to stand out on his own somehow.

Absolutely fantastic match.

Shota is 100% the next ace after Okada.

Damn, Bishamon vs Aussie Open was an incredible match too.

Jr title time. Should be good.

Is that natsupoi in the front row?

Was not expecting a limb attack story for this match

Almost skipped this cause I'm not in the mood for the usual 90mph hiromu match, but im pleasantly surprised. This is some 90's junior shit right here.

Distracted by hiromu shouting ROBBIIIIIIIEEEE during every move. Please stop.

Oh god that poisonrana looked bad

Best junior match I've seen in a while. hiromu could have sold the leg better in certain spots, but thats just me nitpicking.

Sanada looking clean. Without the beard and flashy highlights he actually looks more intimidating. Looks like a classic njpw top guy.

Not gonna lie, sanada's new theme is kinda lame. Cold Skull way cooler.

"If he doesn't win tonight, he becomes Hirooki Goto."

Sigh

Sanada in trunks.

Someone check on slik.

So so so so so happy right now. Been a Sanada mark for years, but after all the failed attempts combined with not being a trueborn had me convinced this would never happen.

Match itself was great. Had a classic njpw title match feel, with both guys having a clear strategy.

I came for Okada vs Sanada. But this whole show really impressed me. Much better than wrestle kingdom.

Good for Sanada.

That's awesome for Sanada. Very much deserved this accolade. I was very skeptical of him turning and was worried that it would be go on to be another EVIL type of deal, but they've quickly assuaged those concerns.

EVIL's problem is who he beat, when he beat him, and the fact that he cannot for the life of him deliver in a high-profile singles match.

Even if this runs turns out to just be a transitional run for Sanada and he drops it sometime in the summer, he's now got a clean title win over Okada on the ledger and has basically solidified himself as someone you can comfortably slot into a main event whenever you need him to, and now people could buy that he actually can win.

They've announced a mini tournament to determine the number one contender for the US Title, with the title match being at Forbidden Door

-Lance Archer vs. Juice Robinson on April 16 in Philly
-Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Will Ospreay on May 21 in Long Beach
-Winners face off June 4th at Dominion

Seems pretty obvious this is setting up Omega vs. Ospreay II at Forbidden Door, but you can never totally dismiss Tana if either Ospreay's shoulder is still fucked by May 21st or if they want to save the rematch for Wembley.

To give more context to the Just 5 guys name, the point is that they are a group of guys who have been overlooked as guys who are "just a good hand".

Additionally, they are touting themselves as champions of the people, looking to change new japan not just for themselves but for the audience. Thats why the enter through the audience. Because they're just 5 guys, no different from the people in the crowd.

Its an interesting idea. Not sure if it will work though, as the whole point of pro wrestling is that these people are not like everyone else. Thats why you want to see them. But I guess a godly physical specimen like Sanada saying "hey brother, you're just like me" might win some people over.

I would have the rematch at fd2, and the rubber match at wembley

Omega beats Ospreay again at Forbidden Door. Ospreay finally gets a win over Omega in Wembley.

Main events of the show are MJF/Punk for the men’s title and Jamie Hayter/Britt Baker, Lights Out, for the women’s.

The Bucks team with Adam Page to wrestle for the six-man belts. I’ve got them going against Death Triangle in my head. Big spot for PAC. House of Black will probably end up in there too.

I see Danielson going against either Okada or ZSJ. I’d prefer Danielson vs. Okada, with Danielson vs. ZSJ being something that you can do if you go back. You can do an angle with him or something. Maybe he wins the ROH Pure Championship in a taped match before the show that you can do make a big deal out of on ROH TV?

Saraya is in a big tag team showcase alongside whatever heels are in the Outcasts. I can see them throwing Athena in there, maybe kicking out a Toni Storm and/or a Ruby Riott by then. I can see them trying to get Sasha Banks & Bayley, at least for that match. Saraya, Mercedes Mone, Pamela Martinez, Mercedes Martinez & Serena Deeb (is she even still there?) vs. Toni Storm, Ruby Riott, Riho, Willow Nightingale & Jade Cargill. If you do it that way, you can have Mercedes & Martinez and Mercedes Martinez teaming together. If you can’t get Bayley, keep Toni on the heel side and just throw in Hikaru Shida.

Taya Valkyrie drops the TBS Title to Kris Statlander, maybe taped before the show to actually air on Dynamite. That’s where they are. They do something with the TNT Title. Maybe Hook wins it? Swerve? Doesn’t matter. You do a men’s tag team showcase between Sting, Darby, The Acclaimed & Paul Wight and whatever heels are going at the time. It could be QTV, The Embassy, Jeff Jarrett and co. Doesn’t really matter.

If you can get Kairi, do a ROH Women’s Title match between her and Athena.

FTR defend the AEW Tag Titles against Moxley & Claudio.

There’s some sort of Wembley Rumble where you can feature some special appearances and guys who don’t fit on the card. You try and get Nick Aldis for that.

Yota Tsuji made his return from excursion, attacking SANADA and effectively laying down a challenge for the title immediately. Also did the LIJ pose so presumably that’s the faction he’ll be joining.

Came across looking like a star in that segment.

Don’t know who that guy is, but taking your word that he comes off like a star, it wouldn’t be the most shocking thing in the world to have him take the belt off Sanada. I don’t think Sanada needs a long reign and it could help to freshen up the product. Would kind of be another Okada against Tanahashi moment, with Sanada also being a freshly crowned guy.

Good look on the guy. I’m kind of sick of reading about the same names in New Japan.

Disagree with completely about Sanada having a short reign. Guy has been giving it his all as a premier workhorse for the company for years and he deserves a solid title run.

I understand the fatigue with seeing the same names, but given his transformation, he might as well be a new guy. Can't reiterate enough how much he comes off like classic 80's new japan stars like fujinami and inoki. I just get a whole throwback vibe and its awesome.

Okada/Tana/Ishii vs. Mox/Claudio/Umino and SANADA/Tsuji were both fantastic matches. Hell of a fucking showing for Tsuji going straight into a main event spot. I think they've really got something with him

G1 field announced - bumped up again from 28 to 32 participants:

Aaron Henare (United Empire)
Alex Coughlin (Bullet Club)
Chase Owens (Bullet Club)
David Finlay (Bullet Club)
Eddie Kingston (AEW)
El Phantasmo (Main Unit)
EVIL (Bullet Club)
Gabriel Kidd (Bullet Club)
Great-O-Khan (United Empire)
Hikuleo (GoD)
Hirooki Goto (CHAOS)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (Main Unit)
Jeff Cobb (United Empire)
Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH)
Kazuchika Okada (CHAOS)
KENTA (Bullet Club)
Mikey Nicholls (TMDK)
Ren Narita (Strong Style)
SANADA (J5G)
Shane Haste (TMDK)
Shingo Takagi (LIJ)
Shota Umino (Main Unit)
Taichi (J5G)
Tama Tonga (GoD)
Tanga Loa (GoD)
Tetsuya Naito (LIJ)
Tomohiro Ishii (CHAOS)
Toru Yano (CHAOS)
Will Ospreay (United Empire)
YOSHI-HASHI (CHAOS)
Yota Tsuji (LIJ)
Zack Sabre Jr. (TMDK)

Yuck at Kingston being in there, but it should still be pretty good. I played out some scenarios in my head the other day. I think Tanahashi could have a shot for “one more main event.” Sanada could put him down and that could add fuel to the Sanada/Okada rivalry.

Another thing that would be kinda cool is if you get a pretty fresh winner or even two guys in there that you wouldn’t expect. Tsuji winning the thing would be PrettyCool.

I think we’ll also have to wait for Forbidden Door and see what goes down there. If Danielson/Okada is just the greatest match ever, they’ll probably run that again at the Tokyo Dome. But I’m predicting Okada/Omega and Danielson, Moxley, Claudio, Yuta & Umino against…fuck it, LIJ.

Is that Vito putting AEW next to Kingston? Didn’t he do a “fuck AEW” thing and “go to” ROH?